billg Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 I recently bought a very early 1952 Sales Brochure for the "TR1" which of course was never actually manufactured but formed the basis for the design of the TR2. Is this basic 4pp brochure a scarce item? I'd never seen this item advertised before? Apparently the TR1 was to have hammock design bucket seats and the fuel tank was refilled via the lockable spare wheel cover hubcap. Also the car offered an engine oil filler with combined dipstick... None of these features made it to the TR2. The only luggage space was behind the seats! 0-60 mph quoted as 15.5 secs and max 75 bhp. Regards bill G @ NB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 I cannot answer your question, but would be very interested to see it - would it be possible to scan the pages ? Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
billg Posted September 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Please PM me your email address as its tricky using this phone with this forum to paste in pics Bill G@ NB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
EdwinTiben Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Perhaps lebro kan add the pictures? I think more people like to see them! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Graham Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Yes, many of would love to see that brochure. Cheers, Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 (edited) Here is the Spec sheet,It's a two sided flyerPlease post on the Forum , plus attribute the images to Bill Gardner 1959 TR3A "IWE Car of the Year" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unfortunately not possible to read the text from the photo - Bill - have you got a scanner, that would give better results. Bob. Below is a quick paste job of the text side. off on hols for a week tomorrow, so will do it properly when I get back. Edited September 17, 2014 by Lebro Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RAHTR4 Posted September 17, 2014 Report Share Posted September 17, 2014 Hi Bill, I wonder if you have found an original brochure? I have only ever come across the re-prints of this particular brochure, which seem to be quite common, but I think overpriced : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIUMPH-SPORTS-CAR-Specification-Brochure-1952-STANDARD-REVIEW-Magazine-Reprint-/151164698388?pt=UK_CarParts_Vehicles Regards, Richard Quote Link to post Share on other sites
billg Posted September 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Hi Richard I used to work in printing and I think it is an original as the paper type looks old with a high clay content and with some foxing to the inside edges of the Specs sheet, which I don't think a reprint would have. How long ago would the reprints have been made? I don't think I want to pay Pooks £44 to get a copy to compare with mine though! Regards Bill G@NB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richard V Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Hi, I saw one of these for sale at Beaulieu a few days back. Is it one and the same? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
billp Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Surprisingly, this brochure is not all that rare (or valuable)...we have had one in the Didcot archive for many years, and I have seen several others....several thousand would have been given away at the 1952 London motor show....incidentally, the car should not ever be called the "TR1"....there was of course no such thing...it is properly called the "20 TS"....Bill Piggott Quote Link to post Share on other sites
billg Posted September 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Hi Bill Your correct of course in its formal designation not being TR1, but its a useful shorthand. I bought it via EBay.fr and it was not dear. The copy I have is in great nick for a 62 year old pamphlet , I'll let you know if I ever see another advertised. I see dozens of the rest for TR2, TR3 etc Looking forward to Mr Robson's next book on Works cars soon to be published. Regards Bill G@NB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 (edited) Your correct of course in its formal designation not being TR1, but its a useful shorthand. I'll sometimes refer to the 20TS as the "20TS bobtail" or "bobtail prototypes" to differentiate the two or three of these from the more normal-looking prototypes. It's entertainingly odd that in the long history of the TRs, there isn't a TR1 -- I kinda like that curiosity. [see post #17 for the reason this was edited -- 20TS, of course, not TS20!] Edited September 19, 2014 by Don H. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BrianC Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Talking of 'curiousity', what about the TRX? On second thoughts, I'd rather forget about that one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Talking of 'curiousity', what about the TRX? On second thoughts, I'd rather forget about that one. Hah! In the June-July issue of the magazine of the VTR in the USA, The Vintage Triumph, Mike Cook, current TVT editor and long serving Triumph fan (having bought his first TR2 with spats in 1955 and beginning a long career with Standard-Triumph Motor Company Inc in New York in 1958 editing the TSOA newsletter and managing advertising), continues a multi-part series on the TR7 in which he notes: Much of the limited advertising money went towards promoting special edition TR7s. First was the '30th Anniversary Edition' celebrating three decades of Triumph roadsters, a concept that commemorated the 1950 TRX prototype as the "first TR". This special had side stripes, chrome wheel trims, luggage rack, three spoke alloy steering wheel, AM/FM stereo, coco floor mats and a special dash plaque. Not the strongest marketing concept but we'd try anything to sell cars! So there is indeed (cringe...) some official Triumph history calling the TRX the first TR... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
billp Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Well actually, if "TR" simply stands for Triumph Roadster, which it does, the first "TR" was of course the 1946 Triumph Roadster, built until 1950......incidentally the 1952 prototype must be called the 20TS, not TS20 (that was the 20th TR2 built)....Bill P. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graham Robson Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 (edited) Thanks for the welcome pre-publicity for THE WORKS TRIUMPHS IN DETAIL. It will go on sale in the next four weeks from Herridge & Sons. I hope to get permission to have a few copies at the NEC Classic Show, on the Register stand, in November. BTW - flyers/inserts will be in TRaction which is to be published at about that time, and there will be a £7.50 discount for signed copies therein .... Hon. Pres. Edited September 19, 2014 by Graham Robson Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 Sorry for the delay, been a bit busy, but here is my somewhat "tweaked" image of the "Triumph Sports Car" brochure from your photos. Had to take out quite a lot of distortion, but the end result is quite readable if printed double sided on A4. Bob. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
billg Posted October 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Hi Bob Thanks for pasting this together. Not many folk will have seen the text before. I liked the fact that the car comes equipped with a "strangler". Is this what the US folk call a choke? Regards Bill G @ N B Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vivdownunder Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Strangler better applied to downdraft carbies with a top butterfly that "strangled" the air intake for cold starts, thus enrichening the mixture. SU carbies didn't strangle the air supply, instead providing extra fuel for cold starts by lowering the jet. That aside, the name was probably dropped because strangler wouldn't fit on the choke knob. Viv Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Webster Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Well actually, if "TR" simply stands for Triumph Roadster, which it does, the first "TR" was of course the 1946 Triumph Roadster, built until 1950......incidentally the 1952 prototype must be called the 20TS, not TS20 (that was the 20th TR2 built)....Bill P. What strikes me as most remarkable, considering the commission plate designation of TS - sports - is how the subsequently developed prototype came to have a badge on it saying TR2. Why not TS2? Nick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don H. Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 ...equipped with a "strangler". Is this what the US folk call a choke? Umm... No. Never heard the term in that context. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foster461 Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 I had never heard of it either but in Motor Vehicles and Their Engines: A Practical Handbook on the Care, Repair ... By Edward Smith Fraser, Ralph B. Jones They say: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Iirc on my old BSA Bantam the choke was called a strangler. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lebro Posted October 24, 2014 Report Share Posted October 24, 2014 Could be confusing if you live in Boston ? I'll get me coat Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.